Michigan man again seeks Granholm recall

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 6 (UPI) -- A Michigan prison guard says he's going to try for the fourth time to mount a petition drive to recall Gov. Jennifer Granholm from office.

Paul Piche, 52, of Omer, Mich., will appear before the Ingham County, Mich., Elections Commission this month to try again to get the wording of his recall petition approved, after which he would be faced with the task of collecting more than 950,000 signatures within 90 days to trigger a special recall election, The Detroit News reported Sunday.

Piche said he is motivated by his belief that Granholm is endangering the state by moving to reduce its inmate population in a bid to help balance Michigan's cash-starved budget.

"I'm driven," the 24-year veteran corrections officer said. "I'm a long-time public servant so I'm used to dealing with frustration. A message needs to be sent. The governor must be stopped."

Granholm attorney Michael Hodge said Piche's ballot initiatives so far have failed to meet the requirement they be written in ways that are understandable to voters and the recall subject.

"He wants to tell a story so badly that he keeps trying to spin it and that's where he gets into trouble," Hodge told the News.